topic Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep) in Staying well

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Croix — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:23:42 GMT

Dear All
The purpose of this thread is as a meeting point for those that can’t sleep and it is late (I.E. AFTER midnight.)

It can be a useful space for users to share their issues with insomnia as well as coping strategies. It can also be a general space for users to converse and support one another throughout a difficult night.

Please note – for those that are just bored or lonely we already have a place - the BB Café, which I recommend instead of here

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/bb-social-zone/the-bb-cafe

Croix

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 12:37:22 GMT

Hey Croix, thanks for making this thread as per my suggestion, I appreciate it. I'm sure others do too.

Anyway, I struggle with Insomnia. I haven't been to a sleep clinic or anything like that, but I know that I have it, and my Psychiatrist diagnosed me with it (I see him over Telehealth and have since I first saw him in 2019, plus he's in another state). I was thinking of seeing if there were some sleep places like that around me though, I have no idea what they'd do or anything. I was thinking about sleep meds too but I'm worried I'd take them all on purpose & it would interact with my other meds (1 SSRI & the pill, not related to mental health) & maybe if I take a med my Psychiatrist recommends for my nightmares/PTSD.

No matter what time I try to go to sleep, it takes me 1 hour to fall asleep, then I wake every hour pretty much, to go to the toilet, just waking up & can't get back to sleep, nightmares or weird dreams, thirsty, whatever, all of that stuff happens. The nightmares are often, I don't watch or look up scary stuff, they just happen.

This makes me sleep in to try & catch up on sleep. I seem to sleep better during the day when the light comes through my blinds, because for some reason I feel safe then? I've always hated the dark & night time, I think I did as a kid too, I'm not 100% sure. When I've been away from home, in familiar surroundings or not (fair enough with unfamiliar surroundings), I've also struggled to sleep.

I've been this way since I was 12 when I first got mental health issues, so in 2011. I know it's a waste of power but I leave my TV on for the light & sound. I've tried forcing myself to sleep with a night light, but I need the TV on & I'm worried something would burn or something if I left it on. I usually put the sleep timer on on my TV but then I turn it back on when I wake up again. I can't sleep in complete dark no matter where I am because I hear noises & I feel unsafe, & I feel like I see things.

I've tried Lavender (I love Lavender), tried counting sheep or other things, tried to calm myself down, tried listening to relaxing music, tried imagining I'm in a peaceful place, etc. Nothing seems to work that I've noticed anyway.

I don't know what to do, it's exhausting. I feel like not getting out of bed most days/afternoons. I'm lazy but I'm mentally ill & I'm also in pain which is also making me depressed (yes my parents, GP & Psychiatrist know my insomnia & pain), & it also wakes me.

Sorry for rambling on everyone.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

geoff — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:25:20 GMT

Hi Croix, thanks for your thread, but isn't it much easier to just use The BB Cafe, otherwise there will be too many threads for people to click on because this thread has been open for a very long time and anyone and everyone can comment on it.

It has produced many great comments, some to make people laugh and whatever is said is to produce a much lighter side to those suffering from any type of depression.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

White_Rose — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:11:17 GMT

Sleep or lack of sleep is a huge problem for so many people. While I can get to sleep, like mb20lover I wake early and often during the night. There is medication of course but I would hesitate to take this road unless it was for a stated time and I did not become reliant on pills. To me that's not very helpful.

mb20lover I discussed this with my GP some years ago. Her suggestion was to think of a book (or something similar) and recap the story from the beginning to end. Turn over every page so to speak and follow the action. It requires heaps of concentration which may allow you to forget, or at least put on one side, the concerns of the day. Like you I have tried watching TV but again my GP said no because it stimulates us to stay awake.

I have been sleeping with a small light on for a little while. Not sure why but it does help. You can get music CDs with beautiful sounds or gentle music and perhaps set them to play constantly. I'm a big believer in the power of music.

Why not ask your GP for a referral to a sleep specialist It may be you have a physical reason for waking constantly. I have sleep apnoea. Like you I woke constantly often not being able to get back to sleep easily and became very tired. This is a condition where your throat closes during the night that you cannot breathe or not take deep breaths and you are roused from sleep. Often I am in REM sleep which is our deepest state of sleep. This is where the brain is processing the day's events. I did not fully wake up during the times so I really had no idea how often I woke.

I was constantly tired and felt I was unable to cope with my life at times. I was sent for a sleep test which showed when I had these episodes of waking. It was a quite a revelation. You may find it beneficial to sleep propped up a little. Not sitting up but just have your head a little higher than the rest of you. There is less pressure on your throat. I used two pillows and made sure my shoulders were on the pillows. It did make a difference.

I think to some extent my reluctance to sleep in the dark came from constant waking sometimes after horrid dreams. I hope this is helpful.

Mary

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Matchy69 — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:38:44 GMT

Hi Mary and Tayla I was interested to hear you to have sleep Apnea I to was diagnosed with this a few years ago.I went to a sleep clinic at the hospital and they kept me overnight with all the monitors on me and camera watching.I was really suprised at the number of times I had stopped breathing during my sleep.The doctor told me to go a nd get a mouth guard made which would help.He didn't think I needed the the machine as I was not that bad.Lately I have been feeling more tired then normal and wondering if my sleep Apnea has got worst or it is something else.I feel like a zombie at the moment I am so tired.I try and see my doctor in a couple of weeks when school goes back.

Tark care,

Mark.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:25:14 GMT

Hey Mary, thanks for your suggestions. I wonder what they'd do at sleep clinics, I've never been to one and don't know much about them. I'll try asking but I don't see my current GP until Feb. I see a replacement one on Thursday though (idk if I'll still go). I'm not a big reading person.

Mark, sorry to hear you and Mary have Sleep Apnea. I think my Dad has that too. I've apparently snored so loud before that I've woken people up without realising it lol, but that was years ago on school camps, and they did it anyway. I don't think I snore anymore but I have no idea.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Matchy69 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:57:25 GMT

Hi Tayla when I was married my wife use to wake me up when I was snoring telling me to stop snoring that I was snoring that loud.It wouldn't hurt to get a referral to a sleep clinic from your G.P and discuss it with them.Sleep is so important for our physical and mental health.I feel like I am a Zombi at the moment.
Take care,
Mark.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 04:59:52 GMT

I'm sorry you feel like a Zombie Mark, I know that feeling. Would a Sleep Clinic cost any money or can it be done on a plan like a MHCP? I've never been to one so idk what they do.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Matchy69 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:10:54 GMT

Hi Tayla my sleep clinic was at the public hospital so it didn't cost anything for me done through Medicare.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:16:47 GMT

Oh okay, thanks Mark. I'll have a look on Google to see if there's ones local to me. I know there's a place that sells Sleep Apnea machines as I've seen it and seen ads on the TV but I'm not sure if there's anything else.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:16:38 GMT

Hi everyone, if there's anybody around who can't sleep like me. I'll be awake for a while if anyone feels like chatting. No pressure for anyone to do so though of course.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Croix — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:42:07 GMT

Dear mb20lover~

A sleep clinic (as far as my experience goes is a specialized area of a hospital or private premises, normally supervise by a doctor. You go to bed in a comfortable room that does have a fair amout of technical gear in it and an observation window.

The idea is to see if the way you move in sleep (if you do actually fall asleep) can give clues as to why you do keep awake.

This can be a very wide range of hings, You mentioned sleep apnea, which I believe could be is one of the causes.

My own reasons for not sleeping are pain and discomfort from a spinal condition together with anxiety. Unless I can get to sleep straight away I know it will be hours before I do and get up and read a book and have cocoa (or write a post:).

Croix

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 02:35:04 GMT

Hey Croix, thanks for the explanation.

I'm sorry to hear about your pain.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Croix — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:46:05 GMT

Dear mb20lover

You said your psych mentioned an anti-nighmare sleep promoting medication. I can't take these (I have PTSD and nightmares still -though they are not as strong any more) however it dropped my blood pressure too low even on a minimal dose.

I'm told that happens with some people. I've also heard others get reasonable results. I'm not sure exactly how many different ones there are are in this category. I think it would be a matter of careful discussion wiht your medical team.

If I have a nightmare I get up (wife wakes me or I wake up myself) , make a hot drink and read a calming book (fiction fantasy), then try again. Takes a long time.

Croix

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 01:36:03 GMT

Hey Croix.

Yeah I've discussed this with my Psychiatrist and GP. I have had meds I've taken at night (antidepressants) that have made me dizzy also, some days I was more dizzy than others and then it lead into the next day. So I'm worried about the blood pressure side of things.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

demonblaster — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 04:52:20 GMT

Hi peeps just tagging.

Thx Mr Croixy ☺

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Croix — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:32:40 GMT

Dear mb20lover and all~

We have now been tagged by DB, a singular honor, please do not be surprised if we get inundated with emoji and incomprehensible NZeze 🙂

mb20lover~

Can I ask apart from medication what strategies you use to try to make things bearable when it looks like you are going to be up most of the night?

Croix (who is always willing to learn:)

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:46:10 GMT

Hey Croix, and hey demonblaster, and others here of course.

Croix - I usually just listen to music, watch videos (I try to find funny ones or lately I'm looking at colouring book flip throughs to see if I want to buy them, if I can find them) which have relaxing music or just someone talking, stuff like that. Or sometimes I come on here, play my colour by numbers app or word search app on my iPad. That's about it. Nothing really helps. I struggle with self care.

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Croix — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 13:57:47 GMT

Dear mb20lover~

There has been a lot of people who have taken to intricate coloring in books for relaxation, I think it started with children but becuse used by adult. Many clinical settings will provide them. They can take enough concentration to take you mind away from daily troubles and anxieties without being in the least demanding. So if you can find any give them a try

If you Google (note the spelling)

coloring in books for stress

you should not only find books but more detailed explanations of their effects. Using Google Images gives you lots of examples.

When I'm certain I will not sleep due to the day's events I stay up, if I'm not sure I go to bed and try my meds and relaxation exercises. If that works great. If however after an hour I'm still awake and ruminating I get up again. One of the reasons is I believe those circular thoughts based on anxiety get stronger if not interrupted and getting up again helps to do that.

Then I read, it is the most relaxing for me.

Croix

Night Owls (for those awake late and can't sleep)

Guest_4643 — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 01:53:55 GMT

Hey Croix.

Colouring can be therapeutic at times, I have some colouring books and bought some more (waiting for those to arrive, hopefully some come tomorrow).

I have a short attention span though unfortunately so I get bored of things easily